The resistance of the workers of Simo Textile in Turkey, a subcontractor of Sun Textile continues after they were dismissed without receiving their rights.
On the 23rd day of their resistance, the workers sent a letter to the Turkey offices of the well-known brands that Simo textile works for. The workers called on the brands to comply with the social responsibility programs they signed and all parties to fulfill their responsibilities. Sending the letter to Zara, Bershka, Inditex, Tesco, and Marks & Spencer Turkey offices, the resisting workers expressed their determination to continue the struggle.
The letter of the workers is as follows:
Dear official,
We are the workers Simo Tekstil, subcontract of Sun Tekstil. We have produced thousands of products for your brand, in the factory we work in.
One day, we learn that our factory has been shut down and that we are unemployed. We are unemployed without getting to receive our months worth of salary, tens of hours of overtime pay, severance pays for over a decade for some of us, annual leave pays, and some more of our rights.
We are writing you this letter. We are writing because you hold responsibility due to the rules of conduct and principles of ethics you signed for, in the name of social compliance. We produced your products and could not get its return. You hold responsibility and you are not to run away.
We know that Sun Tekstil claims otherwise; that it cut their relation of manufacture with Simo Tekstil a year ago. They are not telling the truth. We have documents that can prove it wrong. We would like you to know, we will share them with you and the public if necessary.
We have been resisting to get our right, for twenty-three days. Our resistance continues, in front of our factory for most of the days, in front of Sun Tekstil for some, and in front of your stores in the city center for the rest of the days. We would like you to know that our resistance will continue until we get what is our right and we will make our voices heard in front of your other factories and stores.
If you did not sign up for the social responsibility principles you agreed on, only to prestige the name of your brand; we invite you to keep your promises and to fulfill your responsibilities written in the rules of conduct you published.
The “Breathe Down the Bosses' Neck” Solidarity Network of Simo Tekstil Workers
